Justice For Cleaners at Thompson Reuters

Cleaners employed by Rentokil Initial the contractor of Thompsons Reuters in Canary Wharf demand the London Living Wage and an end to bullying by management.

In November 2011, Thompsons Reuters rejected any increase to the wages of their cleaners. In contrast, in February 2012 after the journalists voted to strike Thomson Reuters agreed a minimum pay raise of 2.5% and an additional 5% for merit raises. However, when cleaners who are part of the union Industrial Workers of the World circulated a petition for the Living Wage their Rentokil Initial managers subjected them to intimidation and abuse. Cleaners were called to a meeting at Canary Wharf office and told if they approached Thompson Reuters to ask for the pay rise, then Thompson Reuters :

· Would change their cleaning contractor

· The cleaners wages would be cut

· Cleaners jobs would be cut

Cleaners were forced to sign a ‘form’ that if they approach Thompson Reuters for a wage increase they will be committing ‘gross conduct’, and they would ‘suspend them’ and they will be ‘dismissed’.

Amidst a tirade of verbal abuse and threats cleaners were told by their ‘furious’ managers they were all ‘stupid’, that if ‘You wanna earn more money’ then ‘Go find another job’.

As part of their ‘Corporate Responsibility’ Thompson Reuters state that it is committed to: ‘Creating a company culture and workplace that promotes diversity and safeguards the health, safety and dignity of all employees.’ The IWW says put your money where your mouth is:

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Holly crap. Middle managment ay. You know most people, including middle managagment are under a stack of pressure. I think its not right to record such things, morally. I understand the workers, and the moderate way in which (most) got involved, this is a good thing. However, Shareholders will always exert undue pressure upon a workforce, but the reality is this. Without it, performance would decrease To the extent of government institutions, which in a commercial world is unsastainable. I was going to say something about greed, but thought better of it. I feel genuine grieving for all parties here. One thing however that I did pick up. You must, all parties, run by the rules of the land. If you must break them, well you should not be doing business in that country. A countries laws must be upheld.